Friday letters: Drug costs, evangelicals and Barbara Bush

Pills of the opioid oxycodone-acetaminophen are also known as Percocet.

Photo: Patrick Sison, STF / Associated Press

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JORDAN RIVER, WEST BANK - JANUARY 11: An Evangelist Christian pilgrim raises her arms and shouts the Lord's praises during prayers before being baptized in the waters of the Jordan River in 2007 near Jericho in ... more

JORDAN RIVER, WEST BANK - JANUARY 11: An Evangelist Christian pilgrim raises her arms and shouts the Lord's praises during prayers before being baptized in the waters of the Jordan River in 2007 near Jericho in the West Bank. less

Drug costs

Regarding “Why do the insured pay more for prescriptions?” (HoustonChronicle.com, Thursday), Charles Silver and David Hyman do a good job of describing the convoluted mess of obtaining prescription drugs. There are obviously too many players over-organizing the process through insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers who do not seem to actually deliver benefits.

The authors also provide sound advice, such as: Ask what the drug price is if you pay cash. Many new drugs seem to work miracles but require a huge investment in research and development before getting approved. We should be able to work with that if the drugs keep us alive. But we should be able to get rid of the complicated bureaucratic nonsense.

Regarding “Evangelicals are not defined by politics” (Page A15, Thursday), I appreciate the opinions of Pastor Franklin on evangelicals not being defined by their politics. However, the loudest voices among them have dominated the media for decades and have created the impression that they are more of a political group than a faith-based one.

Rarely are evangelicals in the news for humanitarian reasons, even though they are very active in that arena. Sadly, for them, perceptions are everything, and the perception among the general public is that they are a very judgmental, sometimes hateful and politically driven group that has married itself to the Republican Party.

John Basel, Houston

Widely admired

Regarding “Matriarch of Texas dynasty” (Page A1, Wednesday), my heart is saddened by the death of former First Lady Barbara Bush. She was the most gracious and genuine first lady in my lifetime. She always carried herself with the confidence and assurance of a woman who had nothing to prove. What a class act!

Gloria Orozco-Garcia, Bay City

Literacy legacy

Through Barbara Bush's efforts to end illiteracy, she inspired people of all ages and from all walks of life to appreciate the value of reading and writing.

Because of her contributions, more people can read and write effectively. Being illiterate is becoming a problem of the past. Barbara Bush will always be remembered for what she did for so many adults and children.

Barbara Irvin, Lock Haven, Pa.

Calling message subterfuge

Regarding “Telling her truth of private heartbreak helps others” (Page A21, Wednesday), make no mistake about it, this is about making society OK with abortion. Cloak the message in an emotional story of a woman whose baby has abnormalities in utero (a very small percentage of abortions happen for this reason) to evoke sympathy.